Immersion type washer and liquid agitating means therefor



5 Sheets-Sheet l J. J. PALOTSEE IMMERSION TYPE WASHER AND LIQUID AGITATING MEANS THEREFOR Nov. 25, 1952 Filed May 14, 1948 1952 J, .1. PALOTSEE IMMERSION TYPE WASHER AND LIQUID AGITATING MEANS THEREFCR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 14, 1948 1952 J. J. PALOTSEE 9,

IMMERSION TYPE WASHER AND LIQUID AGITATING MEANS THEREFOR Filed May 14, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 25, 1952 IMMERSION TYPE WASHER AND LIQUID AGITATING MEANS THEREFOR John .i. Palotsee, Youngstown, Ohio, assignor to Julia Palotsee, Youngstown, Ohio 14 Claims.

My invention is a novel power-driven washer for articles or the like, adapted to be used for cleaning greasy machine parts, structural steel members or any other bulky objects, the present invention being an improvement upon the washer shown in my U. S. Letters Patent #2,437,968, dated March 16, 1.948, and the washer shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 765,833. filed August 4, 1947 and which issued August 14, 1951 as U. S. Patent No. 2,564,443.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a washer of the general type shown in my above mentioned patent and pending application, but in which the body of the tank is elongated, with means for circulating water around the tank, the washer tank being disposed under a conveyor track from which the articles to be cleaned are suspended, the track being so disposed that the carriers for the articles to be cleaned are moved in such direct-ion that the articles will be lowered into and immersed at one end of the tank adjacent one side thereof with the articles moving in the direction of the fluid circulation, the track adjacent the midpoint of the tank however being deflected towards and adjacent to the opposite side of the tank so as to move the articles carried by the conveyor in a direction opposite to the movement of the fluid circulation during the latter half of their movement through the tank, the articles being thereafter raised out of the tank by the conveyor, such procedure effecting a more thorough cleansing of the articles.

Other minor objects of the invention will be hereinafter set forth.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several practical embodiments thereof, to enable others familiar with the art to adopt and use the same; and will summarize in the claims, the novel features of construction, and novel combinations of parts, for which protection. is desired.

In said drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation showing one embodiment or my novel washer, and showing the conveyor track for the le carriers disposed above the tank.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing a modified tank, for use with the article conveyor track (not shown).

e is a top view of the tank shown in Fig.

the parts shown Fig. 5 is an enlarged end elevation of the tank shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a removable plug used when cleaning out the sediment compartments of the tank.

Figs. 1 and 2 show one novel embodiment of my novel washer, in which the tank is constructed generally, but not necessarily, similarly to that shown in my aforesaid Letters Patent #2,437,958, and in my co-pending application Serial No. 765,833. As shown, the washer consists of a tank comprising a casing i, open at the top, but instead of being of circular plan, as in my aforesaid patent and application, the casing is elongated to any desired length, same having rounded ends la.

Disposed somewhat above the bottom of the casing l is a false bottom 2 having a series of spaced circular openings to therein. Below and spaced from false bottom 2 is an intermediate bottom 3 having openings therein aligned with openings 2a in false bottom 2, tubes 4 connecting the bottoms 2 and 3 concentrically with the said openings. In the side and end walls of casing 5, intermediate false bottom 2 and intermediate bottom 3, are intake openings 5 for air to support combustion at the burners (not shown) which preferably surround the tubes l, shown and described in my co-pending application Serial No. 765,833.

Below the intermediate bottom 3 is the main bottom 6, and within the space between bottom 6 and intermediate bottom 3 are a plurality of drawers 7, preferably slidable in guides mounted upon the bottom 6, said drawers being disposed below each of the tubes i and being adapted to be withdrawn from their positions in the tank through openings in the side of easing l opposite the drawers i, said openings being normally closed by cover plates 3 removably secured to the casing by bolts 9 or the like in a water-tight manner.

By the above construction, the burners between the interinediate bottom 3 and false bottom 2 will heat the fluid within the casing i, which fluid through the tubes Q will fill the space between the bottom 5 and intermediate bottom 3; but the drawers 3, being disposed directly below the tubes 4, will directly catch most of the sediment which drops downwardly through the tubes 3, the sediment being normally heavier than the fluid. By removing the cover plates 8, the individual drawers i may be withdrawn from casing i for the purpose of emptying same, when filled with sediment.

In order to prevent free flowing of fluid down through the tubes 4 when any of the cover plates 8 are removed, plugs for the respective tubes 6 are provided, each plug, as shown in Fig. 6, having an exteriorly threaded head In at its lower end adapted to engage internal threads 2%) (Fig. 5) in the upper ends of the tubes 4, each plug having a stem I a of greater length than the depth of casing I above false bottom 2, said stem having a handle Illb at its upper end. Thus when the plugs Illa are inserted in tubes 4 and the covers 8 removed, the fluid above the false bottom 2, which is normally free from sediment, will not be wasted or lost from the casing I, while the grease or muck-trapped in the drawers '5 may be dumped therefrom after the drawers are removed, and the drawers 1 replaced and the cover plates 8 again secured in position. Enough fluid should then be added to the tank, after plugs Ifla are removed, to restore the fluid to its working level. The above plug is similar to and is used similarly to the plugs disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 765,833.

At each end of easing I is a hollow protuberance II above the false bottom 2, said protuberance being closed at its top and bottom, and being welded to the end of the casing I in a fluid tight maner. The portions of the rounded end walls Ia of the casing I embraced by the sides and top of the protuberances II are cut away so as to permit the fluid within the casing i above the false bottom 2 to circulate freely within the protuberances II, screens I2 (Fig. I) prefer ably being disposed across the said cut away portions of the casing to prevent entrance of solids or sediment into the protuberances which would interefere with the fluid propellers contained therein. As shown, in one protuberance II is journaled one or more vertically spaced parallel shafts I3 carrying propellers I4 at their inner ends opposite the screen I2, said shafts i3 being disposed preferably in a vertical plane in clined at an angle toward one side of easing E, to cause the fluid to circulate along said side in the direction of the arrows at (Fig. 2), the fluid flow thus continuing to the other end of casing I. The protuberance II at the opposite end of the casing I also contains shafts I3 for propellers I4, but the shafts I3 are inclined at an angle toward the opposite side of easing I to direct the flow of fluid from said protuberance in the direction of the arrows y (Fig. 2). By the above construction, the fluid within the casing i above false bottom 2 is caused to circulate continuously in the direction of the arrows .r

The propeller shafts I3 are preferably pro-- vided with belt pulleys I5 around which runs belts I6 to cause the propellers of the respective protuberances to rotate in the same direction; and preferably each upper shaft It carries a second pulley I! which is driven by a belt I? from a pulley I9 on the shaft of a motor 29.

Above the casing I is a track 2I, having a depressed central horizontal portion disposed somewhat above the top of easing I, the track 25 sloping upwardly as at 2Ia adjacent the ends of the casing I. Track I supports an endless series of conveyor carriers having hooks 22 which support the work W, which may be metallic or other articles which are to be washed in the tank.

As shown in Fig. 1, the carriers move in the direction of the arrow 2, and the inclined portion Zia at the leading hook is disposed adjacent the side of the tank so that the work W will, when initially immersed in the tank, be moved in the direction of the arrows :c, i. e., in the direction that the fluid in that portion of the tank is also moving.

By the above construction, an arrangement is provided which will vary the work W to be washed into and out of the fluid, the work when initially entered into the fluid of the tank moving in the same direction as the circulation of fluid, but before reaching the opposite end of the tank the work is deflected to the opposite side of the tank, so as to move counter to the flow of fluid in the tank along said opposite side.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, similar parts are similarly numbered, and of course the casing I would be disposed below the same track 2I and conveyor carriers shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this modification, the same arrangement of the bottom 6, intermediate bottom 3, false bottom 2, tubes 4, clean-out drawers 7, and the cover plates 8 is used as above described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. However, in this modification, a different arrangement of fluid propelling means is disposed in the protuberances I I. In each protuberance I! is journaled a vertical shaft 23 driven directly by a motor 24, said shafts 23 being disposed substantially on the longitudinal axis of the tank and carrying a series of vertically spaced curved blades 25 so shaped that the blades at one end of the casing I will cause the fluid to flow along one side of the tank in the direction indicated by the arrows K (Fig. 4) while the blades carried by the shaft 23 of the other protuberance I I are arranged to set up a fluid flow in the direction of the arows Y (Fig. 4). The paddle drive is thus a motor driven unit which operates on a centrifugal principle and agitates the fluid in the tank, and preferably the paddles 25 on each shaft 23 are staggered, as indicated in Fig. 5, to assist in promoting better agitation of the fluid within the tank above false bottom 2.

I do not limit my invention to the exact forms shown in the drawings, for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a washer for articles or the like, an elongated fluid holding tank open at its top and closed at its bottom; means for setting up circulation of fluid around the ends and sides of the tank; a conveyor track having a depressed substantially horizontal portion above the main portion of the tank and having upwardly inclined portions adjacent both ends of the tank; a series of carriers on said track from which the work to be washed is suspended; the leading inclined portion and adjacent end of the depressed portion of the track being disposed adjacent one side of the tank to move the work immersed in the fluid in the same direction as the circulation of the fluid, said depressed portion at substantially the middle of the tank deflecting laterally towards the opposite side of the tank, whereby the work throughout substantially the last half of its movement through the tank will move in the direction opposite to the circulation of fluid, and while traversing the trailing inclined portion of the track.

2. In a washer as set forth in claim 1, hollow protuberances at both ends of the tank respectively above the bottom communicating through screened openings with the interior of the tank; and said circulating means being disposed within the said protuberances.

3. In a washer as set forth in claim 2, said circulating means comprising vertically spaced horizontal parallel shafts inclined towards the opposite sides of the tank respectively; propellers carried by said shafts; and means for rotating the shafts.

4. In a washer as set forth in claim 2, said circulating means comprising vertically disposed shafts in the protuberances disposed substantially on the axis of the tank; means for rotating said shafts; and a series of vertically spaced blades on each shaft for setting up circulation of the fluid along the respective sides of the tank.

5. In a washer as set forth in claim 4, said blades being staggered whereby the fluid will be agitated while being circulated.

6. In a washer for articles or the like, an elongated fluid holding tank open at its top and closed at its bottom; a false bottom within the tank having openings therein; means below the false bottom for heating the fluid; means for setting up circulation of fluid along the opposite sides of the tank respectively; a conveyor track having a depressed substantially horizontal portion above the main portion of the tank and having upwardly inclined portions adjacent both ends of the tank; a series of carriers on said track from which the work to be washed is suspended; the leading inclined portion and adjacent end of the depressed portion of the track being disposed adjacent one sid of the tank to move the work immersed in the fluid in the same direction as the circulation of the fluid, said depressed portion at substantially the middle of the tank deflecting laterally towards the opposite side of the tank, whereby the Work throughout substantially the last half of its movement through the tank will move in the direction opposite to the circulation of fluid while traversing the trailing inclined portion of the track.

7. In a washer as set forth in claim 6, an intermediate bottom in the tank between the tank bottom and false bottom and having openings below those in the false bottom; tubes connecting the said false and intermediate bottoms concentrically of said holes; opening in the side of the tank between the said false and intermediate bottoms;

and said heating means being disposed between said false and intermediate bottoms.

8. In a washer for articles or the like, an elongated fluid holding tank open at its top and closed at its bottom; a false bottom within the tank having openings therein; means below the false bottom for trapping sediment dropping from the fluid through openings in the false bottom; means for setting up circulation of fluid along the opposite sides of the tank respectively; a conveyor track having a depressed substantially horizontal portion above the main portion of the tank and having upwardly inclined portions adjacent both ends of the tank; a series of carriers on said track from which the work to be washed is suspended; the leading inclined portion and adjacent end of the depressed portion of the track being disposed adjacent one side of the tank to move the work when initially immersed in the fluid in the same direction as the flow of fluid, said depressed portion at substantially the center of the tank deflecting laterally towards the opposite side of the tank, whereby the work throughout substantially the last half of its passage through the tank will move in the direction opposed to the flow of fluid in the tank and while traversing the trailing inclined portion of the track.

9. In a washer as set forth in claim 8, an intermediate bottom in the tank between the tank bottom and false bottom and having openings below those in the false bottom; tubes connecting the said false and intermediate bottoms concentrically of said holes; and said trapping means comprising removable drawers on the tank bottom disposed below the tubes respectively; said wall of the tank having other openings opposite each of said drawers through which the drawers may be withdrawn and replaced; and cover plate removably closing the said other openings.

10. In a washer as set forth in claim 9, removable plugs for closing said tubes when the cover plates are removed.

11. In a washer for articles or the like, an elongated fluid holding tank open at its top and closed at its bottom; a false bottom within the tank; means below the false bottom for heating the fluid; means below the false bottom for trapping sediment dropping from the fluid through openings in the false bottom; means for setting up circulation of fluid along the opposite sides of the tank respectively; a conveyor track having a depressed substantially horizontal portion above the tank and having upwardly inclined portions adjacent both ends of the tank; a series of carriers on said track from which the work to be washed is suspended; the leading inclined portion and adjacent end of the depressed portion of the track being disposed adjacent one side of the tank to move the work when initially immersed in the fluid in the same direction as the flow of fluid, said depressed portion at substantially the center of the tank deflecting laterally towards the opposite side of the tank, whereby the work throughout substantially the last half of its passage through the tank will move in the direction opposed to the flow of fluid in the tank and while traversing the trailing inclined portion of the track.

12. In a washer as set forth in claim 11, an intermediate bottom in the tank between the tank bottom and false bottom and having openings below those in the false bottom; tubes connecting the said false and intermediate bottoms concentrically of said holes; an opening in the side of the tank between the said false and intermediate bottoms; and said heating means being disposed between said false and intermediate bottoms.

13. In a washer as set forth in claim 12, said trapping means comprising removable drawers on the tank bottom disposed below the tubes respectively; said wall of the tank having other openings opposite each of said drawers through which the drawers may be withdrawn and replaced; and cover plate removably closing the said other openings.

14. In a washer as set forth in claim 13, removable plugs for closing said tubes when the cover plates are removed.

JOHN J. PALOTSEE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 4,772 Nott May 30, 1827 1,423,342 Loew et al July 18, 1922 1,529,770 Cavanaugh et al. Mar. 17, 1925 1,624,982 Rosenberg Apr. 19, 1927 1,961,548 Caise June 5, 1934 2,014,084 Kingsley et al Sept. 10, 1934 

